Senior Process Engineering Technician

Job Description

Readiness Delivered. Kratos builds high-performance hardware used in ground systems and space communications. Our products help communicate with satellites, spacecraft, and other mission-critical platforms. We’re hiring a Senior Process Engineering Technician to serve within Production Engineering. The Senior Process Engineering Technician provides prompt, hands-on technical support to electronics manufacturing. Approximately two-thirds of this role is spent on the production floor helping assemblers resolve build, workmanship, process, and documentation issues. This person serves as the primary technical point of contact for day-to-day assembly questions. They interpret drawings, schematics, bills of material, and build instructions; provide immediate build direction within established engineering and quality requirements; and escalate issues that could affect safety, material selection, design intent, or form, fit, or function. The Senior Process Engineering Technician also owns first-time builds from pre-build readiness through issue closure. This is an individual-contributor position with no direct reports, but it requires the judgment and communication skills to lead builds, train assemblers, coordinate across functions, and make timely production-floor decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide real-time technical support to production assemblers.
• Interpret drawings, schematics, bills of material, specifications, and build instructions.
• Provide and document build direction within approved engineering and quality requirements.
• Pause work and escalate issues involving safety, material substitutions, design intent, or form, fit, or function.
• Own first-time and first-article builds from pre-build readiness through issue closure.
• Verify that documentation, materials, tooling, equipment, and training are ready before builds begin.
• Perform mechanical assembly, cable fabrication, soldering, rework, and inspection when needed.
• Create or revise work instructions, visual aids, redlines, and other manufacturing documentation.
• Train and coach assemblers on new or revised products and processes.
• Design cables and create or maintain cable specifications.
• Identify recurring problems and implement corrective actions or recommend engineering changes.
• Identify design-for-assembly and process-improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management.
• Use ERP, task-management, and engineering change-control systems to document and track work.
  
  

Experience And Skills

• High school diploma or GED.
• 10 years of electronics manufacturing experience.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, electrical schematics, bills of material, and assembly instructions.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, cable fabrication, soldering, and electronics rework.
• Experience resolving manufacturing problems directly on the production floor.
• Sound judgment about when to act independently and when to escalate.
• Strong communication, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Current IPC certification or equivalent experience, with the ability to obtain required certifications after hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. government security clearance.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in electronics, engineering technology, manufacturing technology, or a related field.
• Low-volume, high-mix electronics manufacturing experience.
• Aerospace, defense, or other regulated manufacturing experience.
• Experience leading first-time or first-article builds.
• Experience with cable design, ERP systems, work instructions, and engineering change control.
  
  

Work Requirements

• Full-time, first-shift position.
• Fully onsite, with approximately two-thirds of the role performed on the production floor.
• Individual-contributor position with no direct reports.
• Occasional overtime and travel as needed.
  
  

The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Competitive salary based on experience and education

Hourly Pay Range: $33.00 - $42.00/hour

Kratos is valued for our ability to design and deliver leading edge, resilient solutions for aerospace communication, control, awareness and mission success across a continuum of offerings—from commercial to tailored custom solutions and integrated programs. Customers trust us to stay relevant and know we are in it for the long-haul. We bring both the capability and confidence that our customers value and depend on. And we always deliver.

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

Job Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage
• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement
  
  

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. EOE, Minorities, Females, Vet, Disabled, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or any other protected class. All qualified job seekers are encouraged to apply. Kratos Defense is committed to America's veterans by providing opportunities for them to continue contributing after service to our nation. We also work to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

EEO Is The Law

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If you require an accommodation to navigate or apply to our careers site, please send your request to HRAccessibility@kratosdefense.com or call 858-964-2916. Any inquires not related to requesting an accommodation will be discarded.

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